Cultists Burn 3-Day-Old Baby to Death in Horrific Ritual Because Leader Said Infant Was the Antichrist

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Chilean police are searching for three people accused of burning a baby alive in a doomsday ritual.

Police began searching for the suspects on Friday in the southern region of Araucania.

Officials say the 3-day-old baby was thrown onto a bonfire in November because the leader of the sect believed that the child was the antichrist.

This undated photo released by Chile's Police Investigative Unit on Thursday, April 25, 2013, shows Ramon Gustavo Castillo Gaete, 36, who authorities said is the leader of a 12-member sect that is accused of burning a baby alive. (AP Photo/ Chile's Police Investigative Unit)

Police arrested four other members of the sect Thursday after a months-long investigation. Among them was the baby's mother, 25-year-old Natalia Guerra.

In her written court statement, she said that all sect members knew that her child "would be murdered" and that they had to obey the leader because he "was God."

The ringleader is 36-year-old Ramon Gustavo Castillo. Police say he escaped to Peru and authorities are working with Interpol to capture him.